Train-order-delivery mechanism.



PATENTED OUT, 31, 1905.

J. G. WILSON.

TRAIN ORDER DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17. 1905.

attoonu Q Vifuea ca Mu TJ'NTTnn sTATns JAMES GRANT WILSON, OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRAlN-ORDER-DELIVERY MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed July 1'7, 1905. Serial No. 270,004.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES GRANT WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Order-Delivery Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to delivery devices, and more particularly to a device of the character described that shall be useful in delivering orders to trainmen on board moving trains.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device that shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, effective in operation, and by means of which a man on board a rapidly-moving train can receive from the station agent or a person on the ground a message, despatch, order, or any other paper without danger or injury either to the party delivering the paper or the party receiving it.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device to take the place of the hoop or ring now commonly in use by station agents or operators in delivering orders to trainmen. The present method is to attach the order to a hoop, through which the trainman passes his arm as the hoop is held extended by the party delivering it. This method is both inconvenient and dangerous. After the hoop is secured by the trainman by the time he can release the order and return the hoop a rapidly-moving train will have passed some distance beyond the station, thus requiring the agent or operator to go up or down the track after the hoop. The hoop is also liable to.injure the arm or hand of the trainman, particularly if the train is moving rapidly, and the party delivering the message is frequently obliged to go perilously near a rapidly-moving train. By the use of my device all danger, expense by reason of loss of hoops or rings, time wasted in searching for same after the trainman has thrown them from the train, &c., are obviated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, as well as the structural features by means of which these objects are attained, will be made clear by an examination of the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numerals indicate corresponding portions throughout, and in whicl'- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device, showing the same attached to a vertical standard or pole. Fig. 2 is a detail view of an end of one of the arms, showing the means by which the delivery-cord is held in place. Fig. 3 is a side view of one end of said arms, and Fig. A is a top plan of one of the arms.

1 designates an arm or pole having mounted on one end thereof or formed integral therewith two diverging prongs or arms 2, which are arranged at any suitable angle with the pole or arm 1. At the junction of the arm'l and the diverging arms 2 is secured in any suitable manner a rubber band or ring 3, which has connected therewith a small belt or loop 4:, made of cloth or other suitable material. At the outer end of each diverging arm 2 is cut a notch or kerf 5 in each edge of said arm, and in each of these notches or kerfs rests a rubber band or ring 6, having linked therewith a belt or loop 7, comprised of cloth or other suitable material.

8 designates a cord having both ends fas- I tened together. This cord is arranged to form a triangle, as shown in Fig. 1, and doubled on itself at each corner of the triangle to form the loops 9, which loops are inserted under the rubber ring or band 6, which is raised for this purpose by means of the belt or loop 7' and which can be clasped by the thumb and fingers of the operator.

My device is shown in Fig. l in operative position for the delivery of a message with the cord 9 held in place by the rubber bands 6. As a means of ascertaining the length of the cord I have secured to the end of the handle or pole I an upwardlyprojecting lug l0 and to the end of one of the diverging arms 2 a similar lug 11. By passing the cord around the lug 11 and then drawing it around to the lug 10 and tying where the ends meet a suitable length will be secured. As a means of cutting the cord after the same has been tied I provide a knife or blade 12, fixed in a kerf 13, cut in the end of the handle 1 and set far enough in the kerf so as not to endanger the fingers of the operator.

14 designates a standard or pole which may be used to elevate the device in case it is found necessary to deliver orders to trainmen at a point where a bridge or embankment occurs.

Another useful object of said standard isto provide a means whereby my device may be set in operative position sufficiently near the track to enable a trainman to reach out of the car and secure the message while the train is passing and Without aid of the station agent or operator.

In operation a cord of any suitable quality, size, or material is passed around the lug l1 and thence around the lug and tied where the ends meet. The remainder of the cord is then passed around into the kerf 13 and out by the blade 12. The cordis then released from the lugs, one end being pushed under one of the rubber bands 6, which is raised by means of the cloth loop 7. The fingers of the operator are run along the cord to another band, where a loop is formed and placed thereunder, and so on to the next band, when the cord assumes a triangular shape. (See Fig. 1.) The order (which is designated by 15) may be secured to the cord by looping the same and placing the order into the loop and then drawing the cord tight by catching hold of one of the loops 9, extending beyond one of the bands 6. The operator is then able to clasp the handle 1 and extend the diverging forks, having one section of the cord stretched between them, and as the train moves past the trainman extends his hand to catch the cord, which is drawn from beneath the rubber bands with the order or orders secured thereto.

It will be observed that by the use of my device a large number of orders may be delivered to a rapidly-passing train, thus doing i away with the returning of a hoop or any 1 other device.

By having a suitable frame or 1 socket in which to set the standard 4 my de- Vice can be placed in operative position,"whereby orders can be secured by any one on a passing train without assistance.

While my invention is intended to be used for delivering orders to trainmen, it is obvious that it can also be used for mail-bag-delivery purposes and the like.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention; but it is obvious that certain modifications of form and arrangement of parts will suggest themselves to the skilled operator or mechanic, which said modifications and arrangements come well within the scope and spirit of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A device of the character described, comprising diverging arms, a suitable support for the arms, an order-bearing cord, and means for yieldingly and removably holding the cord outstretched between the outer ends of the arms.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a suitable handle, arms diverging from one end thereof, an order-bearing cord, and means for yieldingly and removably holding the cord outstretched longitudinally of the arms and between the outer ends thereof.

3. Adevice of the character described, comprising a handle, arms diverging from one end thereof, an endless order-bearing cord, and means for yieldingly and removably holding the cord outstretched longitudinally of the arms so that a section of said cord is held extended between the outer ends of the arms.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a suitable support, arms diverging therefrom, an endless orderbearing cord, means connected with one of the arms and the support whereby the right length ofsaid cord may be determined, cord-cutting means carried by the support, and means for yieldingly and removably holding the cord outstretched between the outer ends of the arms.

5. A device of the characterdescribed, comprising a suitable handle or support, arms diverging from the outer end thereof, an endless order-bearing cord arranged in the shape of a triangle having two of its sides extending longitudinally of the arms and the other side extending between the outer ends of said JAMES GRANT WILSON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES KAH, A. J. HEPLER. 

